Issues

Strong Neighborhoods

Strong neighborhoods are what make Columbus great. I support a comprehensive approach to investing in our neighborhoods via a few core principles: First, redevelopment efforts should lift up residents, not gentrify. Diverse housing options are critical, from affordable to market-rate. Second, responsiveness from government is a necessity. There is no constituent concern my office won’t address, whether a crumbling sidewalk, a blighted home, or difficulty in the permitting process. Finally, we must tackle the barriers to prosperity that hinder some neighborhoods. No matter where they were born and grew up, all residents should have access to opportunity and prosperity.

Good-paying Jobs

Columbus’ record of job creation is strong as we’ve grown out of the Great Recession. We have a diverse economy and a low unemployment rate. Our pipeline for talent in Columbus is unmatched, with a large and thriving student population. Still we must double down on our economic development efforts because the key to a booming economy in Columbus is more than adding jobs — it is adding good-paying jobs that help build a strong middle class that will reinvest in our city. Attracting various industries — from manufacturing to health care to technology — will continue to diversify our economy.

Fighting Poverty

The zip code where a child is born should never be the determining factor for what future he or she can dream of. Every Columbus resident should be able to access safe and affordable housing. Every neighborhood should have access to healthy food. While many people in Columbus are thriving, too many people live with the daily stress of poverty. As Columbus continues to grow, we must measure our progress not by how the wealthiest are faring, but by how the lives of those hardest hit by poverty are improving.

Sound Finances

It is important for Columbus to maintain its AAA bond rating, which the city achieved and has maintained through good fiscal management. This means each year we have to face tough choices to make smart financial decisions for the taxpayers of Columbus. The three main fiscal priorities that should take precedence are the maintenance of neighborhood services, the protection of the public safety, and strong economic development programs.